'EastEnders' attracts nearly 9m for Darren's departure

EastEnders came close to 9m viewers on Tuesday evening for Darren's dramatic exit from Albert Square, the latest audience data has revealed.



The BBC One soap was seen by 8.75m (39.2%) from 7.30pm, as Darren called off the wedding and decided to leave Walford behind. The repeat screening fetched 979k (5.2%) on BBC Three from 10pm.

Also on BBC One, Holby City grabbed 5.35m (22.7%) in the 8pm hour for the episode 'Broken', in which Michael feared that he had slipped up on another plastic surgery.

Meanwhile, Emmerdale pulled in 6.92m (33.7%) on ITV1 at 7pm for Jimmy and Nicola's reunion. A further 130k (0.6%) watched on timeshift.

Elsewhere, Hollyoaks appealed to 1.3m (6.7%) on Channel 4 from 6.30pm, before E4's first look at the next episode mustered 528k (2.6%) from 7pm and 144k (0.6%) on +1.

Earlier in the day, Doctors entertained 1.56m (22.3%) on BBC One from 1.45pm, while Neighbours had 718k (10.2%) on Channel 5. The Aussie drama's repeat screening was watched by 1.3m (8.2%) from 5.30pm.

Home and Away managed 829k (4.6%) on Channel 5 from 6.30pm, before 5*'s first look at the next episode pulled in 454k (2.3%).